THE COCK AND THE FOX

[111] A FOX was caught in a trap
one fine morning, because he had
got too near the Farmer's hen
house. No doubt he was hungry,
but that was not an excuse for
stealing. A Cock, rising early,
discovered what had happened.
He knew the Fox could not get
at him, so he went a little closer
to get a good look at his enemy.

The Fox saw a slender chance
of escape.

"Dear friend," he said, "I was
just on my way to visit a sick
relative, when I stumbled into
this string and got all tangled up.
But please do not tell anybody
about it. I dislike causing sorrow
to anybody, and I am sure I can
soon gnaw this string to pieces."

But the Cock was not to be so
easily fooled. He soon roused the
whole hen yard, and when the
Farmer came running out, that
was the end of Mr. Fox.

The wicked deserve no aid.

Hundreds of additional titles available for
online reading when you join Gateway to the Classics